Fruit-box.



No. 775,048. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904. G. W. STEVENSON.

FRUIT BOX Arrmonlolq FILED JULY 14.1902. nnxnwma JUNE 16,1904.

no 110mm.

UNITED STATES Patented November 15, 1904.

PATENT ()FFIQE.

FRUIT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent N o. 77 5,048, dated November 15, 1904.

Application filed July 14, 1902. Renewed June 16, 1904. Serial No. 212,787. (No model.)

To LLZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LOHARLEs W. STEVENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Puyallup, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to fruit-boxes made to receive and hold fresh fruits preparatory to packing in cases for shipment.

The object of my'invention is to produce a fruit-box that can be manufactured and put together complete at the factory, then folded together into a minimum knockdown-space for packing and shipping to the fruit-grower, then unfolded and fitted together by the fruitgrower to form a rigid and suitable fruit-box without additional brads or fasteners. I attain this object bymeans of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 represents the four sides of my fruit-box folded into a square for fastening together. Fig. 2 is a view of the upper folding bottom piece prior to fastening in place.

Fig. 3 is a view of the lower bottom piece prior to fastening in place. Fig. 4 represents the several parts fastened together, making the completed box ready to be folded for shipment or to be put together for use. Fig. 5 represents the box folded fiat ready for packingand shipping in the knockdown. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the box as seen in Fig. 4, and Fig. 7 is across-section of the same when folded together for use. Fig. 8 is a view of shallow form of fruit-box constructed the same as in Fig. 4 and ready for use. Fig. 9 is a cross-section of Fig. 8.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

My invention comprises a fruit-box con structed of thinly-cut wood or manufactured board and made of the form now in common use for packing and shipping fresh fruit. It is constructed with three pieces of thin wood or manufactured board, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The four sides A, B, C,

and D are formed by one piece folded to a square, as seen in Fig. 1, a shallow knife out being made in the board to cause it to fold with straight corners. The flap E overlaps one side for fastening together. The bottom of the box 'is put in with two pieces (shown in Figs. 2' and 3) designed to be fastened to the sides of the box and designed to so engage each other as to provide a fixed bottom that will also hold the sides of the box in a rigid and square form. These two bottom pieces comprise the novel feature of my invention.

The upper bottom piece (shown in Fig. 2) is made with an angle cut to fold and form two parts F and G, and the part F is fastened to the inner side of the box to side A, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, by means of the metallic fasteners K K. The lower bottom piece (shown in Fig. 3) is cut to fold into three parts H, I, and J, the part H being fastened to the inside of side C by means of fasteners L L, as seen in Figs. 4, 6, and 7 The box is folded for packing and shipping in the most compact form, as seen in Fig. 5. The bottom part G is folded up against F, and the part I is likewise folded up against H and J down against 1. The sides of the box are then folded together by pushing A, G, andF against side B and the side D against J, I, and H and C, making all into a fiat knockdown form suitable for packing any desired number of boxes in a compact mass for shipment. The box may also be folded flat by folding the bottom parts downward, G into a plane with F, and I into a plane with H, and J against 1, and the sides then folded together, as her'einbefore described. This will make a thinner but wider form for packing and in some cases may be preferable to the form shown in Fig. 5.

To set the box up for use, the sides are unfolded till square with each other, as seen in Figs. 4 and 6. The parts I and J are then swung up and the part J inserted between A and F, and the part G of the upper bottom is then pressed down on I, as seen in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. The edge of G fitting closely against H clamps J firmly between A and F, and the two bottom parts thus engaged and fitted in place make a secure bottom for the box and at the same time hold the sides of the box in a square and rigid form.

My invention is adapted to the two common forms of boxes now used for packing berries and small fruitsthe square deep box, as shown in Fig. 4E, and the square shallow box, as shown in Fig. 8. However, I do not limit myself to any size or special use of box, but reserve the right to apply my construction as set forth to any kind of box where the same may be found useful and practicable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The within-described box comprising the sides adapted to fold into flat form, and the supplemental sides and two-part bottom composed of two separate pieces, each piece having an upwardly-extending part lying parallel with and against one side of the box and another part extending horizontally at right angles to it and across from one side to the other of the box, one of said horizontally-extending parts lying on top of the other and having its free end lying within the angle formed by the upwardly and horizontally extending portions of the other piece, whereby is formed a folding box having a double bottom and double sides above the bottom and in which the horizontal parts constituting the bottom will fold up against the supplemental sides when the sides of the box are folded in flat form, substantially as described.

2. The within-described box comprising the sides adapted to fold into fiat form, a separate piece having a part lying against one of the sides and a folding part extending from said side toward the other side to form a bottom to the box, and a separate piece having a part lying against the opposite side of the box and provided with a folding part lying beneath the folding part of the other piece and having a part interlocking with a portion of the box whereby double sides and a double bottom are formed and the two bottom pieces may be folded up against the sides of the box when the box is folded into flat form, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix' my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. STEVENSON. Witnesses:

A. H. DENMAN, G. W. BULLARD. 

